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zaiphon's reviews
151 reviews
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"There's your man"
In typical Rowell fashion, "Slow Dance" was able to make me feel something. And not just giddy, feet kicking romance. It also was raw, realistic, challenging, and beautifully flawed that I didn't want this to end.
Characters: If there is one thing Rowell is great at, it is characters. Shiloh and Cary felt tangible and real on page. All their flaws and the tense moments were relatable. Even side characters got their special moments and helped shaped the story.
Writing Style: POV shifts from present time and to "before" (Shiloh and Cary in their high school days). The shift to the before POV always popped up in just the right times in the story and I felt it truly added perspectives to the present time characters and their present time struggles. Most of Rowell's novels are strong on characters driving the story and "Slow Dance" is no different.
Overall - I may be biased in my rating because I always enjoy Rowell's novels. But, if you are looking for an adult romance that features strong character personalities, witty banter, the human experience(flaws and all), and "Carrie" by Europe(😊) - then I would absolutely recommend this one.
In typical Rowell fashion, "Slow Dance" was able to make me feel something. And not just giddy, feet kicking romance. It also was raw, realistic, challenging, and beautifully flawed that I didn't want this to end.
Characters: If there is one thing Rowell is great at, it is characters. Shiloh and Cary felt tangible and real on page. All their flaws and the tense moments were relatable. Even side characters got their special moments and helped shaped the story.
Writing Style: POV shifts from present time and to "before" (Shiloh and Cary in their high school days). The shift to the before POV always popped up in just the right times in the story and I felt it truly added perspectives to the present time characters and their present time struggles. Most of Rowell's novels are strong on characters driving the story and "Slow Dance" is no different.
Overall - I may be biased in my rating because I always enjoy Rowell's novels. But, if you are looking for an adult romance that features strong character personalities, witty banter, the human experience(flaws and all), and "Carrie" by Europe(😊) - then I would absolutely recommend this one.
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This was a cute, small town romance story that had all themes cowboy. A quick read and did enjoy it.
It is definitely not a deep, mind altering romance, but it does have its moments. Sometimes I was hoping for some more harder challenges or depth in the other plot points that just felt only slightly explored.(FMC adhd, career struggles, etc). I realize that there are interconnected stand-alones that feature the other characters. I felt the side characters lacked, but now I know that they will be explored more in depth in their respective novel.
The characters are in their late 20s/early 30s but if you took out the spice then this reads like a YA romance. Not necessarily a bad thing - sometimes I am looking for a simple, fun read.
If you enjoyed "Better Than The Movies" or "Yours Truly", then I think you would have fun reading this.
It is definitely not a deep, mind altering romance, but it does have its moments. Sometimes I was hoping for some more harder challenges or depth in the other plot points that just felt only slightly explored.(FMC adhd, career struggles, etc). I realize that there are interconnected stand-alones that feature the other characters. I felt the side characters lacked, but now I know that they will be explored more in depth in their respective novel.
The characters are in their late 20s/early 30s but if you took out the spice then this reads like a YA romance. Not necessarily a bad thing - sometimes I am looking for a simple, fun read.
If you enjoyed "Better Than The Movies" or "Yours Truly", then I think you would have fun reading this.
A Thousand Times Before by Asha Thanki
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was a wonderful, emotional read that I am glad I had the chance to enjoy.
The story takes you through a world where our narrator physically has the memories of the women passed through to her via a tapestry. This heirloom contains the ability for the current owner to relive the memories through the eyes and feeling emotions of a past ancestor. Specifically, we see the world through the eyes of the narrator's grandmother - then leads to the narrator's own mother. Symbolically, it honed in on how things like history, trauma, beliefs, even small moments pass down throughout each daughter - not always necessarily willingly.
As an eldest daughter, I was deeply moved and drew parrallels to my grandmothers and my mother. I question what was passed down to me and why. What are things I will never be able to feel that my mother/grandmothers lived through. While I was not knowledable on the specific pieces of history that takes place in the story, I felt the emotions the characters felt and invested in how the characters would play their roles during these events.
This is a story of women empowerment, love, the human experience, tradegy, and how this shapes not just a person - but generations to come. If you want to feel something and be hooked by these amazing, realistic characters, then I highly recommend this
The story takes you through a world where our narrator physically has the memories of the women passed through to her via a tapestry. This heirloom contains the ability for the current owner to relive the memories through the eyes and feeling emotions of a past ancestor. Specifically, we see the world through the eyes of the narrator's grandmother - then leads to the narrator's own mother. Symbolically, it honed in on how things like history, trauma, beliefs, even small moments pass down throughout each daughter - not always necessarily willingly.
As an eldest daughter, I was deeply moved and drew parrallels to my grandmothers and my mother. I question what was passed down to me and why. What are things I will never be able to feel that my mother/grandmothers lived through. While I was not knowledable on the specific pieces of history that takes place in the story, I felt the emotions the characters felt and invested in how the characters would play their roles during these events.
This is a story of women empowerment, love, the human experience, tradegy, and how this shapes not just a person - but generations to come. If you want to feel something and be hooked by these amazing, realistic characters, then I highly recommend this
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
While this novel is compared to "Rebecca" (and "Rebecca" is even mentioned by author as an inspiration), I would say this story has enough strengths to stand out on its own.
"The Hacienda" has so many elements to it that kept me turning the pages. It has horror, paranormal, history, love, family, betrayal, anger, and revenge. The writing was enjoyable with lots of description - it helps build the house and characters as people you know in real life. There is some slight gore, however, this is heavily a horror-turned-mystery that had me commenting out loud with each chapter.
~~~~~!!SPOILER!!~~~~~
I liked how romance and connections were embedded in the plot, however, it didn't end in your typical happy ending. The dual POVs also were a bonus. I could empathize the feelings of Andres as he struggled through his mixed emotions about Beatriz and her departure from San Isidro.
The way the characters are written is enough to give this book a try. Interested to read more by this author!
"The Hacienda" has so many elements to it that kept me turning the pages. It has horror, paranormal, history, love, family, betrayal, anger, and revenge. The writing was enjoyable with lots of description - it helps build the house and characters as people you know in real life. There is some slight gore, however, this is heavily a horror-turned-mystery that had me commenting out loud with each chapter.
~~~~~!!SPOILER!!~~~~~
I liked how romance and connections were embedded in the plot, however, it didn't end in your typical happy ending. The dual POVs also were a bonus. I could empathize the feelings of Andres as he struggled through his mixed emotions about Beatriz and her departure from San Isidro.
The way the characters are written is enough to give this book a try. Interested to read more by this author!
Poor Things by Alasdair Gray
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
At first, I wasn't sure what to think. There were a few parts that immediately gave me the ick and I thought "what the heck is even going on here..this is questionable.." but then I had a ah-ha moment. Turns out, that just may be the whole point as you read "Poor Things".
Told through different POVs and written letters, this story started out by seeing a woman essentially "built" from the ground up that fits a man's specific narrative. However, we see another side to the story that leaves the reader questioning every belief they settled on when reading it from the original perspective. It makes you question politics and prejudices and perspectives that seem more self taught than absorbed through fact.
There were a few parts which I felt were muddled together and made it feel a little too slow at times. However, I am glad I gave this a chance and was able to interpret it from my perspective.
Told through different POVs and written letters, this story started out by seeing a woman essentially "built" from the ground up that fits a man's specific narrative. However, we see another side to the story that leaves the reader questioning every belief they settled on when reading it from the original perspective. It makes you question politics and prejudices and perspectives that seem more self taught than absorbed through fact.
There were a few parts which I felt were muddled together and made it feel a little too slow at times. However, I am glad I gave this a chance and was able to interpret it from my perspective.
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This was a bumpy ride and not sure I enjoyed it. It had some typical tropes (which doesn't have to necesarily be a bad thing) but they were all jumbled together. I think I was meant to be baffled by the twisf, but the paranormal aspect threw me off. Then, the final twist was resolved in like 15 pages. I went into this blind and wasn't expecting anything in particular, but it definitely wasn't this.
I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was my first Stephen Graham Jones book and wow.. this was incredible.
Full of slasher action with a dash of 80s and small town vibes, I didn't want this to end. It's campy, addicting, even a bit witty, and I ate up every bit of it.
I am just now getting into thriller/horro/slasher genre and I highly recommend this to someone also looking to get introduced to the genre (and fans of 80s hair metal, gas station syrupy dr pepper, and driving in your beater through the middle of nowhere).
Full of slasher action with a dash of 80s and small town vibes, I didn't want this to end. It's campy, addicting, even a bit witty, and I ate up every bit of it.
I am just now getting into thriller/horro/slasher genre and I highly recommend this to someone also looking to get introduced to the genre (and fans of 80s hair metal, gas station syrupy dr pepper, and driving in your beater through the middle of nowhere).
Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I devoured this. I just love Carissa's writing and the way I am able to get lost in her story. Although this is a short, companion novel to the Crown of Nyaxia series, it had all the elements that made me fall in love with The Serpent and the Wings of Night. Action, interesting characters, romance, and light spice - such a fun read!
I am curious to see how much more insight reading this before book 2 will give me. I just hope we can get more Vale and Lilith!
I am curious to see how much more insight reading this before book 2 will give me. I just hope we can get more Vale and Lilith!
A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I couldn't get into this one. I feel like there is a good foundation of something there, but up until about 65% of the book, I struggled to connect to the world enough to care about what was happening. It was fast paced but more of the jumping around sort of thing. I just felt it needed a little more umph. Also the romance just felt.. weird? No tension, or buildup, or enough sturdy development to make the romance feel substance.
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I am on the fence with this one. I can definitely understand why this is considered a great piece of fiction and recommended as should be classic or a "everyone should read this".
I think the problem for me is that my mind kept slipping from the thought provoking topics to imagining this as a sci-fy thriller and desperate to have figured out what was happening in these bunkers. In theory, I guess that is another human trait - the desire to know and understanding.
As you read further into the story (which is told from our nameless narrator's recounts of her life caged with 39 other women), it asks the reader to look into what it means to be a human. To have lived, loved, had purpose - and to have known men. There was a lot of symbolism and interesting takes on feminity that had me questioning what exactly defines a woman. Man. Human.
An interesting read overall.
I think the problem for me is that my mind kept slipping from the thought provoking topics to imagining this as a sci-fy thriller and desperate to have figured out what was happening in these bunkers. In theory, I guess that is another human trait - the desire to know and understanding.
As you read further into the story (which is told from our nameless narrator's recounts of her life caged with 39 other women), it asks the reader to look into what it means to be a human. To have lived, loved, had purpose - and to have known men. There was a lot of symbolism and interesting takes on feminity that had me questioning what exactly defines a woman. Man. Human.
An interesting read overall.